Pneumatic action for musical instruments



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ILLIAM D. PARKER, OF \VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIAN ORGAN AND )[I SIC COMPANY, OF )IERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,005, dated December 4, 1888.

Application filed A ril 12, 1888. Serial No. 270,439. (No model.)

3 jects I attain by means such as hereinafter described, the particular subject-matter claimed being definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure I is a vertical sec tional view of a pneumatic organ-action, illustrating the nature of my improvements. Fig.

2 is a plan view of the same, portions being I shown in section to illustrate underlying parts.

. Fig. 3 is a vertical section at line ua.

Fig. i is a vertical section at line .c and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the governing-valve, showof August 9, I887, I have described an action l I5 for pneumatic organs having a system of ers disposed within the wind-chest and ranging in lateral spacing to correspond with that of the reeds, and combined with a system of regulating-valves actuated by primary pneumatics that work in response to the playing mechanism. This mechanism, while it is of great practical utility and advantage, does not meet the requirements of instruments in which an externally-(Iisposed action is desired.

My present invention therefore relates to an improved pneumatic action based upon principles of similar utility embodied and organized in mechanism that is adapted For external arrangement.

The object of my present invention is to provide an action for pneumatically-operated musical instruments which can be constructed with practical facility and economy, and in which the pneumatics that control the soundproducing devices or actuate the valves thereof are disposed at spacing or intervals corresponding to the reed-scale on the exterior of the wind-chest, to be collapsed by atmospheric pressure when exerting their operative force, and provided with a system of operating-levers, by which their power and movement are transmitted to the sound devices or to the reed-duct valves that are located within the wind-chest; also, to provide, in combination with the principal pneumatics, a windwayplate and system of governing valves or puppets of peculiar construction which are actuated by the small primary pneumatics in response to the playing mechanism. These 01)- its actuating pneumatic.

In referring to parts, A denotes the windchest from which in practice the air is eX sound-controlling pnenmatics or valve-movi hausted, any suitable bellows or wind-inducing apparatus being combined therewith at B for the purpose, which apparatus, being common and well known, need not be herein shown and described.

denotes the sounding devicesin the present instance a double tubc-lmard provided with the usual cells containing reeds R, and having wind ducts or passages c leading from the respective cells to the interior of the windchest, which ducts are in their order controlled by valves D, disposed within the windchest and hinged along one of their sides, as at d, to close against the under side of its seat-board A and to open by a rolling or rocking action. Each valve is provided with an arm, linger, or pin, f, rigidly iixcd thereto, which extends through a conical or l'nnnelshaped space or opening, o, to the exterior of the wind-chest. The face-tucking ot' the valve D is cut laterally, as at vi, and the portion (I is glued to the board A, forming a close packing for the pin f and stopping any leakage of air through the space 0. The fun- 0 nel shape of the space a allows the pin f to swing freely for rocking the valve D. Suit able springs, E, are provided for closing the valves D to their seats when the pressure of the opening mechanism is relieved. 5

F indicates the pnenmatics, by which the valves D or sound-cont rolling devices a re operated. Said operating-pneumatics are arranged on the outside of the wind-chest at intervals correspomling with the lateral spacing too of the reeds, and consists of a series of thin boards 01' plates having upon one of their sides a recess or chamber, F, which is coving holes through the board or plate II, and

the windways 1 by boring holes from the edge of the plate to intersect the chambers I.

Air-passages I extend through the cap 11 of the 'wimlway-plate II, and air-passages I 1 connect the valve ch amber I with the interior of the wind-chest A. A packing, h, of soft leather, is placed between the windway-plate and the top of the wind-chest A, and a similar packing, 71 is arranged on the under side of the cap-piece II. These serve as packings for l l l i the boards or plates and as seats for the sevl eral valves.

The governing-valves K are arranged within the chambers I. Said valves are of the form indicated, each provided with a puppet or head to work up and down in the chamber I, and a depending stem, K, that passes downward through the openings I to a position where it can be engaged by the primary pneumatics L when the latter are inflated. The primary pneumatics are constructed to operate substantially similar to those described in my former patent, above named, the pneumatic-supporting bed L being arranged within the wind-chest, and the several pneumatics each being provided with a windway or airinletduct, m, that leads to a tracker or keyrange, where the ducts are opened or closed, and the pneumatic action thus controlled by the playing mechanism, (not shown,) which can be a perforated music-sheet, a system of valves operated by a music-sheet, or by manual-keys, or any arrangement of wellknown devices whereby the ducts 'm can be opened and closed in accordance with the notes of the music to be executed.

The governing-valve K is of somewhat less diameter and of less height than the chamber 1, inwhich it is confined. This allows it to move freely. \Vhen the primary pneumatic is inflated, the valve is forced upward against the cap II and closes the upper opening, I, and when the primary pneumatic is collapsed the valve K drops and closes the lower opening, I

Combined with the pneumatics Fare series of lateral]y-swinging levers G, that have one of their ends fulcrumed, as at n, their centers respectively attached to the diaphragms of the respective pneumatics, and their opposite ends at positions for engaging with the pins fof the valves D, so that the action of the pneumatic diaphragm, when collapsed, will, by drawing back the lever G, press back the pin f and effect the opening of the valve, while the action of the spring E, which closes the valve, will return the parts to normal position and expand the pneumatic when the collapsing force is relieved from the pneumatic diaphragm.

The levers G are disposed, as indicated, to swing in the spaces between the respective pneumatics, which latter are disposed parallel t0 each other, the lever-movement and pneumatic frame occupying a range or space corresponding to the range or scale of the reeds.

In my present drawings I have shown only a few of the series of sound devices, valves, and pneumatic-operating mechanisms; but it will be understood that in practice the instruments may contain any desired number of these pneumatics, sound devices, and operating mechanisms, the parts being arranged in similar order to that shown throughout the full length of the organ compass, or any desired portion thereof, to afford a greater or less number of tones in the range or scale, according to the required scope or size of the instrument.

The operation of my improved action is as follows: Under normal condition the series of ducts m are closed; hence the primary pneumatics are collapsed, and the governing-valves are in depressed position, stopping the passage I and maintaining the passage I open. Under these conditions the operating-pneumatics are held intlated by the force exerted by the springs E acting through the pins f and levers F, which are attached to the pneumatic diaphragms. Now, when the player opens one of the windways or ducts m, the primary pneumatic corresponding therewith is instantly inflated by atmospheric pressure attempting to supply the exhaust of the wind-chest. This forces upward the governing-valve K to the top of its chamber I, closing the passage I, and opening the passage I*, which gives communication between the operating pneumatic I and wind-chest, and said latter pneumatic is consequently instantly collapsed, vibrating the lever G against the valve-pin f, and overcoming the force of the spring E, and rocking the valve D so as to open the duct of the reed or sounding device, allowing the same to sound. \Yhen the duct m is again closed the primary pneumatic is collapsed and the governing-valve drops, closing the passage I and opening the passage I. Equality of pressure being thus restored to the diaphragm of the operating-pneumatie it loses its power, and the valve I) and lever F are moved back to normal position by the force of'the spring E. Each of the respective sets of devices for the different tones of the scale or series operate in similar manner as their respective ducts m are opened in accordance to the notes of any piece of music to be played, the opening and closing of said ducts being accomplished in any suitable or wellknown manner by manual keys by a perfogaged by the levers of the operating-pnen- 60 rated traveling music sheet or tablet, or by matic, substantially as set forth. other means, such as employed for playing at. A musical-instrument action provided music in instruments of similar class. with the inside rocking sound-controlling Pneumatics arranged as herein shown with valves having pins extending through the the intermediate levers, G, may be employed action-board, the outside collapsible operat- 6 5 for controlling sound-producing devices other ing-pneumatics provided with levers that enthan reeds, such as pipes, strings, bells, or gage said pins for opening the valve, and vibrating rods. springs that close the valves and expand the 10 It will be understood that I do notclaim operating-p11eumatics, in combination with a novelty in the feature of controlling a valve system of governing-valves and primary pneu- 70 operating pneumatic by means of a small primatics that are controlled by the player for marypneumatic and valve devices that open bringing said outside pneumaticsinto action. and close outlet and inlet passages leading to 5. The combination of the sound devices,

15 said operating-pneumatic from the external l the valves I), provided with pins f, the

air to the wind-chest. springs E, the collapsible operating-p11eumat- 7 5 \Vhat I claim as of myinvention, and desire ics F, the levers G, intermediate thereto, fulto secure by Letters Patent, is 3 crumed at n and actuated by the pneumatic l. A pneumatic action for musical instrul diaphragms, the wimlway-board Il, having ments, having, in combination, an inside passages i and chambers I, the governingsound-controlling valve (or valves) hinged valves K, arranged within said chamber with 80 along its longitudinal edge to open and close depending stems K. and the primary pneuby rocking movement and provided with an matics within the wind-chest, having ducts arm projecting through the action-board in that lead to the tracker or key-board range radial relation to the hinging axis, an outfor control by the player, substantially as set side collapsible pneumatic (or pneumatics) forth. 85 provided with a connection that engages said 0. The windway plate or board II, having arm and moves it laterally for operating said the windways 1' and the chambers I, with the valve, and a governing valve (or valves) disinlet and outlet air-passages II'-, and the gov- 3o posed within the airpassage of said pneuerning-valves K, located within said cham matic, having a stem that depends into the bers with its stem depending to the interior 9o wind-chest, and a primary pneumatic (or of the wind-chest, in combination with the pneumatics) for lifting said governing-valve outside operating-p11eumatics and the inside disposed on a support or bed inside of the primary pneumatics, substantially as and for wind-chest, the windways of which are conthe purposes set forth.

trolled by the player or musicsheet. 7. The action-board A, supporting the reed 9 5 2. In a nuisical-instrument action, a series or sound device having the duct 1-, and proof pneumatics composed of chamberedboards vided with the tapered aperture (I, in combiprovided with flexible diaphragms arranged nation with the inside reed-duct valve hinged 40 in uprightposition externally of the windon said board and provided with the pin f, chest, in connection with a windway-board that projects through said aperture and en- 100 having a series of valve-chambers containing gages the valve-operating mechanism at the governing-valves with windways leading i exterior of the wind-chest, substantially as therefrom into said pneumatic chambers beset forth.

neath their diaphragms in said pneumatics, R. The souml-controlling valve hinged on and a series of levers attached to the diathe action-board at the interior of the wind- I05 phragms and t'ulcrumed to vibrate laterally chest, as at d, with its operating arm or pin between the adjacent pneumatics, substanf projecting from the valve through an opent'ially as and for the purpose set forth. ing, a, to the exterior of the wind-chest, and

3. In a musical instrument, the series ofcol- 5 having a portion of the valve-'taeing (1' atlapsible operating-piteumatics disposed outtached to the :u-tion-board to close said openno side the wind-chest at intervals correspond l ing and form a packing about said pin, subing to the reeds and provided with intermedif stantially as set forth. ately-located levers that are moved by the l \Yitness my hand this 7th day of April, A.

action of the respective pneumatic dia- D. 188s. phragms, in ctnnbination with rocking sound- \YILLIAM D. PARKER. controlling valves disposed inside the wind- 3- lYitnesses:

chest and provided with arms or pins that extend to the exterior and are respectively en- CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, ELLA P. BLENUS. 

